A sudden tilt of his head saved Donald Trump from a fatal bullet
New slow-motion video shows how a split-second movement kept the former president alive during the Butler rally shooting.
A fraction of an inch is all that stood between life and death. For a brief moment, a simple turn of the head changed the path of a bullet and the course of history.
WHAT HAPPENED
During a rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman opened fire on Donald Trump from a nearby roof.
A video slowed to 0.2 times its normal speed shows Trump turning his head at the exact microsecond the shot was fired. This small move caused the bullet to graze his right ear rather than strike his skull.
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, killed one rally crowd member, Corey Comperatore. He also hurt two other people before police killed him.
FACT BOX
- Event date: July 13, 2024
- Location: Butler, Pennsylvania
- Video speed: 0.2x normal speed
- Lives lost: 1 attendee killed (Corey Comperatore)
- Injuries: 2 other attendees hurt
WHY IT MATTERS
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This moment shows how close the nation came to a major crisis. A slightly different angle would have ended a life and thrown the country into deep unrest.
Many people look at this event and see divine help. It changes how supporters view the former president and how the public looks at political safety.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Federal agents continue to review the huge security breakdown from that day.
Secret Service teams are now using tighter rules to protect leaders at all outdoor events.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- What was the exact motive of the shooter?
- How did security teams fail to guard the nearby roof?
- Will outdoor rallies ever be the same after these security changes?
SOURCE NOTE
Based on news reports and video analysis of the Butler rally.